lower than whaleshit
- idiom
- Offensive
:
más despreciable que la mierda
- After cheating his business partners, his reputation was considered lower than whaleshit.
Examples
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Many people thought the politician's apology was pointless, as they already saw him as lower than whaleshit.
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I can't believe he would stoop lower than whaleshit!
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She felt lower than whaleshit after the truth about her actions came out.
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His actions were lower than whaleshit in my opinion.
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Many voters considered him lower than whaleshit after his scandalous behavior was revealed.
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After the dishonest deal, his reputation sank to being lower than whaleshit in the community.
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Her betrayal left her feeling lower than whaleshit among her friends.
Synonyms
9
7.1
Not trusted or respected because of bad behavior
8
7.4
Very mean or dishonest in a way people dislike
How Contemptible
Surface Forms
Morphology
A learner who knows 'low', the comparative pattern '... than ...', and the crude word 'shit' (and 'whale') can plausibly infer that 'lower than whaleshit' is a hyperbolic, vulgar comparison meaning extremely low in rank or esteem. However, the expression relies on a metaphorical, obscene image and a non-standard compound ('whaleshit') that is not fully conventionalized, so the exact pragmatic force and usage may not be reliably predicted at B1.
Etymology
The idiom lower than whaleshit may come from an old sea image: people saw whaleshit as the lowest, most worthless thing in the water, so being lower than whaleshit meant being below everyone else. That's why saying someone is lower than whaleshit means they are treated with 'no respect'.